BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of February 20, 2007

 

The Board participated in staff workshop from 9:25 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present to discuss federal forest funding and the Piper Road slide, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. Tuesday, February 20, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding litigation from 10:08 a.m. until 10:12 a.m., with no action taken. 

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.       Minutes for week of February 13, 2007.

2.       Set public hearing for 2:30 PM, Tuesday, March 20, 2007 to consider Ordinance 2007-03 Well and Water Systems to establish standards & procedures for installing a well or creating a small public water system within Skamania County.  

3.       Agreement with WA State Parks & Recreation Commission to provide funding for labor & equipment to continue treatment of knotweed at Beacon Rock State Park.

4.       Agreement with Underwood Conservation District to provide funding for removal of scotch broom & other noxious weed in the Middle Wind River Riparian Enhancement Project.

5.       Memorandum of Understanding with Columbia Gorge Cooperative Weed Management Area to effectively coordinate the action that each party has authority to undertake to address invasive weeds on lands within its jurisdiction.

6.       License & use agreement with Terra Scan, Inc to house Assessor’s Tax Sifter computer program on-line information.

7.       Agreement with Stevenson-Carson School District for Forest Youth Success Title III Program.

8.       Agreement with North Country Emergency Medical Services for NCEMS St. Helens Title III Program.

9.       Agreement with Northwest Service Academy/ESD 112 for Forest Explorers Title III Program.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to declare County-owned tax parcels #03-09-34-2-1-1300-00, #02-07-02-1-1-1000-00, and #02-07-01-1-1-3200-00 surplus, set a public auction of County-owned real property for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, 2007, and set minimum bid amounts as follows: #03-09-34-2-1-1300-00 at $30,000; #02-07-02-1-1-1000-00 at $90,000; and #02-07-01-1-1-3200-00 at $250,000.

 

Tod LeFevre, Public Works Director/County Engineer reported on the Piper Road slide, Road Department, Solid Waste, Building Department, engineering, surveying/right of way, bridges, and equipment and rental revolving fund.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to authorize the Chair’s signature on Purchase Order #3790 for the purchase and set-up of a water level sensing and alarm system for Rock Creek in the amount of $10,800.

 

 

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to authorize overtime pay for exempt employees who worked additional hours for local emergency purposes due to the Piper Road/Rock Creek landslide, retroactive to the date the local emergency was declared on February 5, 2007, as allowed in Section 12.5.2 of Skamania County Personnel Policy.

 

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director reported on the Carson Creek response letter, proposed text changes to the County Code relating to the Hearing Examiner system, Westend Subarea Plan, proposed Right To Farm ordinance, and an upcoming Gorge Future Forum in October 2007 sponsored by the Columbia River Gorge Commission.

 

Scott Pineo, Recreation and Facilities Director reported on facility usage, community education and recreation programming, swimming pool, upcoming events, presented a facilities report for buildings and grounds maintenance and custodial maintenance, and gave an update on current projects.

 

Ann Lueders, Safety Committee Chair reported on the Safety Committee meeting of February 6, 2007, advised of the Committee’s review of Senior Services Pre and Post Operations Check Policies and Procedures, and their suggestion to consider a similar policy for all departments.  The Board reviewed and discussed the following reports:

§         Report #2006-28.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to table report # 2006-28 and contact the department to request additional information.

§         Report #2006-33.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2007-01.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2007-02.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations, with the comment that reports need to be completely in a timely manner.

§         Report #2006-E-23.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations, with the comment that the unacceptable written comment by the employee on the report would not be tolerated.

§         Report #2006-E-24.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations, with the comment that the unacceptable written comment by the employee on the report would not be tolerated.

§         Report #2006-E-26.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2006-E-25.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to return the report to the Safety Committee for clarification of the incident.

§         Report #2007-E-02.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2007-E-01.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

 

The Board advised they would be attending a community meeting at 7:00 p.m. this evening at Rock Creek Center to present an update on the Piper Road/Rock Creek Slide and to address concerns and questions from citizens.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:07 p.m. Tuesday, February 20, 2007 and reconvened at 9:05 a.m. Thursday, February 22, 2007, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to review and discuss Skamania County Comprehensive Plan, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve 13th month vouchers for the period ending December 31, 2006 in the total amount of $2,082.73.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve vouchers for the period ending February 22, 2007 in the total amount of $148,000.62.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to redesignate Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services and Peter Banks, Prosecuting Attorney as Skamania County Claims Administrators.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of the City of Stevenson’s Resolution No. 209 declaring a local emergency due to landslide activity.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to proclaim the month of March 2007 as Women’s History Month in Skamania.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:33 a.m. Thursday, February 22, 2007 and reconvened at 12:05 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board continued in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to review and discuss Skamania County Comprehensive Plan, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 1:10 p.m. Thursday, February 22, 2007 and reconvened at 8:50 a.m. Friday, February 23, 2007 for a special meeting, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to confirm policy set on January 23, 2007 to require written testimony or comment to be considered at a public hearing by the Board of Commissioners to be received by the Clerk of the Board by noon on the Thursday preceding the date of the public hearing.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve vouchers for the period ending February 23, 2007 in the total amount of $1,786.32.

 

The Board discussed the cooperating agency status with the Forest Service and the need to follow up with a letter requesting a response.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to review and discuss Skamania County Comprehensive Plan, with no action taken.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 11:37 a.m. until 12:07 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The Board continued in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to review and discuss Skamania County Comprehensive Plan, with no action taken.

 

The meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m. Friday, February 23, 2007.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON